Motor system recruitment during action observation: No correlation between mu-rhythm desynchronization and corticospinal excitability

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 15;13(11):e0207476. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207476. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Observing others' actions desynchronizes electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms and modulates corticospinal excitability as assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). However, it remains unclear if these measures reflect similar neurofunctional mechanisms at the individual level. In the present study, a within-subject experiment was designed to assess these two neurophysiological indexes and to quantify their mutual correlation. Participants observed reach-to-grasp actions directed towards a small (precision grip) or a large object (power grip). We focused on two specific time points for both EEG and TMS. The first time point (t1) coincided with the maximum hand aperture, i.e. the moment at which a significant modulation of corticospinal excitability is expected. The second (t2), coincided with the EEG resynchronization occurring at the end of the action, i.e. the moment at which a hypothetic minimum for action observation effect is expected. Results showed a Mu rhythm bilateral desynchronization at t1 with differential resynchronization at t2 in the two hemispheres. Beta rhythm was more desynchronized in the left hemisphere at both time points. These EEG differences, however, were not influenced by grip type. Conversely, motor potentials evoked by TMS in an intrinsic hand muscle revealed an interaction effect of grip and time. No significant correlations between Mu/Beta rhythms and motor evoked potentials were found. These findings are discussed considering the spatial and temporal resolution of the two investigated techniques and argue over two alternative explanations: i. each technique provides different measures of the same process or ii. they describe complementary features of the action observation network in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Brain Mapping
  • Brain Waves / physiology*
  • Cortical Excitability / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Fingers / physiology*
  • Hand / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nails / physiology
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Grants and funding

OML was supported by a FAPESP PhD grant (2012/24696-1) and by CAPES PDSE grant (99999.002966/2014-00). PSB is a CNPq researcher fellow (311641/2015-6). LF was supported by a PRIN Italian Ministry of University and Research Grant. FAPESP - Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (http://www.fapesp.br/en/); CAPES - Coordenacao Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (http://www.capes.gov.br/); CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (http://www.cnpq.br); PRIN (Research Projects of National Interest) Ministero dell'Istruzione dell'Università e della Ricerca (http://www.miur.gov.it). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.